13 Small Eco Brands That Are Actually Owned By Giant Corporations

Burt's Bees is marketed as a local brand from Durham, N.C., and proudly described as "Earth Friendly Natural Personal Care for The Greater Good." Of course the brand downplays that it was sold for nearly a billion dollars a few years ago to mega-corporation Clorox.

Brands like Burt's Bees and Ben & Jerry's attract a growing market of environmentally-conscious consumers. They rely on being marketed as local and natural, but many consumers have no clue that these brands now have mammoth multinational overlords.

Lots of the companies started as mom-and-pop's, and though selling to a corporation may have been a hard decision, these small business owners all sought ways to preserve their ideals as part of a large company. When customers accused Burt's Bees of selling out, CEO John Replogle says he personally responded to anyone who provided contact information.

Unilever bought Ben & Jerry's for $326 million in 2000

The ice-cream maker said Unilever was determined to nurture Ben & Jerry's commitment to community values, and its commitment to donate 7.5 percent of profits to social causes.

However, in 2002 the company was accused of abusing its "All Natural" label by the Center for Science and Public Interest and in 2005 Ben & Jerry's CEO Walt Freese admitted the company had grown soft on continuing its traditions of social consciousness.

ConAgra bought Lightlife Foods for an undisclosed amount in 2000

Lightlife produces vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes like Smart Deli slices and Smart Bacon, which made it a logical acquisition target for ConAgra, one of the world's largest packaged food companies.

But ConAgra has also fought against some natural food initiatives. In 2002, the company joined its competitors in stopping the state of Oregon's Measure 27, which would have required it to label products that have genetically-altered ingredients.

Coca-Cola bought Odwalla for $181 million in 2001

"I think everybody is now chasing nourishment." said Odwalla President Shawn Sugarma in 2004. "Obesity and its related health problems are a huge concern for anybody in the food business today."

Known for blends such as C Monster, Mo' Beta, Rooty Fruity and Viva Las Veggies, the juice and natural food bar makers stopped selling the fresh-squeezed orange juice that had made Odwalla famous since it wouldn't last the days and weeks the juices are in transit or on the shelf.

Colgate-Palmolive bought Tom's of Maine for $100 million in 2006

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After the acquisition, Tom's of Maine loyalists complained about the new toothpaste's sweet flavor, the new plastic packaging, and the new smell of deodorant soap.

Basically, they complained about everything.

L'Oréal buys Body Shop for $1.1 billion in 2006

An index that tracked public perception of more than 1,000 consumer brands found that "satisfaction" with Body Shop had slumped by almost half since the deal by Body Shop founder, Dame Anita Roddick, to sell the company to L'Oréal for $1.1 billion.

Campaigners against animal testing and the Swiss multi-national Nestlé, which has a 26 per cent share in L'Oréal, also called for a boycott of Body Shop.

Pepsi bought Naked Juice for $540 million in 2006

Pepsi's third deal that year to appeal to consumers on healthier diets after buying Stacy's Pita Chips and Izze Beverage.

Shortly after acquiring Izze Beverages, and to compete with Coca-Cola, Pepsi bought Naked juice blends and smoothies, all free from added sugars, preservatives and artificial colorings. At the time Pepsi said their healthy products line had been growing at two and a half times the rate of the rest of its portfolio.

Hershey's bought Dagoba Chocolate for $17 million in 2006

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"We’re a quirky chocolate company run by a bunch of Oregon tree huggers that likes to do what we like to do regardless of what ‘they’ think," said Frederick Schilling, founder of Dagoba Chocolate, known for its fair trade chocolate, at the time of the acquisition. "If I am to truly have maximum impact on cocoa farmers and continue to influence the cocoa industry, joining the nations largest chocolate company is the right move."

Coca-Cola bought Energy Brands for $4.1 billion in 2007

Privately known as Glacéau, Energy Brands is the maker of Vitamin Energy, Fruit Water and Smart Water.

Earlier this year Coca-Cola was banned from advertising Vitamin Water as "delicious and nutritious," since a bottle contains the equivalent to four and five teaspoons of sugar, more than a quarter of the recommended daily intake of sugar.